Cabletron Introduces New ASIC-Based Ethernet and FDDI SmartSwitch Modules
for MMAC-Plus Switching System

Demonstrates New Workgroup/Wiring Closet Switch

ATLANTA -- Networld+Interop -- September 27, 1995 -- Cabletron Systems
(NYSE:CS) unveiled here today at a news conference the first products in
the MMAC-Plus SmartSwitch 9000 Series. The two new single- slot,
ASIC-based modules for Cabletron's MMAC-Plus enterprise switching system
include a 24 port Ethernet and a dual port FDDI switch. The modules are
the first products to be officially unveiled under Cabletron's MMACR
SmartSwitch family -- a new line of the industry's most highly reliable
and manageable switches.

In addition to announcing the new MMAC-Plus SmartSwitches, Cabletron also
demonstrated a new modular switch chassis that will serve as a strategic
addition to the company's existing switching platforms. The modular switch
is expected to be introduced during the next six months as a standalone
chassis, and will also be available as a module for Cabletron's
cornerstone Multi Media Access CenterR (MMACR) switching platform.

Based on new SmartSwitch application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
technology developed in conjunction with California-based LSI Logic
Corporation, Cabletron's new switches boast a forwarding rate of 750,000
packets-per-second (pps).

Implementing the SmartSwitch ASIC in the MMAC-Plus raises the aggregate
switching performance of the 14 slot chassis by a factor of 10, to 10.5
million pps. Previously announced two-slot versions of the products for
the MMAC-Plus handle 150,000 pps., with already announced modules for the
MMAC supporting 50,000 pps.

The new SmartSwitch 9000 modules also support 16,000 MAC addresses per
port, allowing the devices to be used in large enterprise networks
comprised of thousands of clients and servers. The switches can also be
used for user-per-port switching, dedicating bandwidth and network
resources per desktop.

The new MMAC-Plus SmartSwitch modules attach to the chassis' high- speed,
2.5 gigabit-per-second Internal Network Bus (INB) backplane. Designed to
simultaneously support both packet and ATM cell transport, the INB
preserves investment in existing LAN equipment and technology while
providing a viable and cost-effective migration path to switched virtual
internetworking.

SmartSwitch 9000 Ethernet Switch Module

Industry's Highest Ethernet Port Density

With 24 ports per module, the new Ethernet switch module quadruples the
port density of the MMAC-Plus to 336 separate segments, giving the
MMAC-Plus the industry's highest port density.

Full Duplex switched Ethernet operation allows for 480 megabit-per- second
of maximum bandwidth per module. Twisted-pair 10BASE-T connectivity is
provided via two RJ-71 UTP/STP front-panel connectors, with 10Base- FL
multi-mode fiber and 10Base-2 coax connectivity provided through an
Ethernet Media Converter. The converter separates patching facilities from
the electronics and allow the modules to be easily accessed in
troubleshooting scenarios.SmartSwitch 9000 FDDI Switch Module

Cabletron's FDDI switch module can be used in a variety of ways to solve
connectivity and performance issues, including allowing up to 28 separate
FDDI rings to be switched in a single MMAC-Plus chassis. The FDDI switches
also protect customer investment in existing installed FDDI networks by
adding more performance and increased bandwidth. The dual-port FDDI switch
module can be used to connect two external FDDI networks to the MMAC-Plus'
high-speed INB backplane.

A configuration option also allows the modules to be used to interconnect
the two internal Flexible Network Buses (FNB) in the Plus to the
high-speed INB. This configuration option preserves investment in existing
MMAC-Plus modules.Embedded Network Management Features

Through per-port RMON support, all new SmartSwitches include extensive
network trend and analysis tools. The switches can be managed using local
management tools or remotely controlled through any SNMP-compliant network
management system, including Cabletron's SPECTRUM for Open Systems suite
of enterprise and element management products.

SmartSwitch Futures

During the next six months, Cabletron is expected to announce SmartSwitches
addressing wiring closet, backbone and enterprise switching applications.
Targeted at providing manageable connectivity for workgroup and wiring
closet applications, Cabletron's demonstrated switch will bring high-end,
SmartSwitch capabilities to an installed base of over 85,000 MMAC chassis.
Cabletron is also expected to introduce a standalone version of the
switch.

The new switches will embrace a variety of networking technologies,
including Ethernet, FDDI, Token Ring, 100Base-T, VGAnyLAN and ATM.

The SecureFast Advantage

Two-Phase Strategy For Building VLANs and VNETs

Cabletron's new MMAC-Plus modules encompass support for SecureFast Virtual
Networking -- a revolutionary two-phase strategy that directly links the
operation of the network with business productivity by migrating customers
to switched virtual networking infrastructures.

Under the first phase of Cabletron's SecureFast Virtual Networking
framework, network administrators can use an intuitive drag-and- drop
application to configure switches based on logical user groups instead of
geographic location. Physical views of each Cabletron switch in the
network can be displayed, with users being assigned to each port according
to the virtual networks in which they are members.

Support for Phase II of Cabletron's SecureFast Virtual Networking
guarantees that customers can extend their VLAN implementations to
encompass management support for enterprise virtual networks. Due in the
first quarter of 1996, Phase II provides network administrators with
unparalleled security and management flexibility, providing administrative
control over each user and network conversation.

 SmartSwitch 9000 Modules                       Pricing     Availability

 FDDI SmartSwitch for MMAC-Plus (9F426-02)      $19,995.00    Q4 1995
 Ethernet SmartSwitch for MMAC-Plus (9E423-24)  $38,995.00    Q4 1995

Headquartered in Rochester, NH, Cabletron employs more than 5,300 people in
over 80 offices around the world. The worldwide modular hub market leader
(Dataquest Incorporated; February 1995), Cabletron is ISO-9001 certified.
Cabletron develops, manufactures and markets Ethernet, FDDI, Token Ring,
ATM internetworking and Enterprise Management software products based on
its Synthesis product framework.

Cabletron directly services more than 80,000 customer sites around the
globe and provides 7 x 24 support coverage, with free phone support during
normal business hours. A component of the S&P 500 index, Cabletron's
common stock is traded over the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
CS. Over the last four quarters the company has reported record revenue of
$934 million and earnings of $188 million.
 
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